The Bloomfield Board of Education and Save our Schools NJ co-host an "Education Town Hall and Panel Discussion" on Tuesday at Bloomfield High School. Pictured, from left, are State Sen. Ronald Rice (D-28), Julia Sass Rubin of Save Our Schools NJ and Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-28).

About 100 people attended what was billed as an "Education Town Hall and Panel Discussion," for a dialogue on the proposed state budget's impact on public education. It was held at the Bloomfield High School's auditorium. The Bloomfield Board of Education and Save our Schools NJ sponsored the event.

Three state legislators - Sen. Ronald Rice (D-28), and Assembly members Ralph Caputo (D-28), and Mila Jasey (D-27), were joined by Julia Sass Rubin of Save Our Schools and a professor at Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.

Public education is under attack by private charter schools, which operate as for-profit, Rice said.

"What you need to understand what is taking place in New Jersey is taking place across the country," he said. "People say it's a conspiracy and it's not."

Particularly troubling, Sass Rubin said, were the possibility of "virtual" charter school students taking money away from those enrolled in public schools. Because state laws are unclear on home learning at a computer, the state may pay these private companies up to 90 percent of the $17,000 it costs to educate a public school student, she said.

"This is really a good business," Sass Rubin said. "Somebody is making $15,000, and it costs $2,000 at most to educate that person."

Up to five of these computerized home learning schools could start by the beginning of the next school year, she said.

While the proposed state budget increases the base amount of per-pupil spending, it also reduces funding to districts like Bloomfield that serve a substantial number of poor students and students with limited English, according to Board of Education President Mary Shaughnessy.

Bloomfield Superintendent Jason Bing said only the public sector would be forced to fight for an adequate level of school funding. He lamented how he wants more programs for the district but is stifled because of limited funding.

"Who spends a lot of time fighting for adequacy? Goldman Sachs? Apple?" Bing said. "No, we are [in public education]. We've been in the exact problem before, but this time it's on our doorstep."

According to New Jersey's Office of Legislative Services, the state has underfunded Bloomfield public schools by nearly $17.9 million during the past three years. Between 2013 and 2017, the township will fall another $13.2 million short of the funds the state itself says the district needs to help students reach state-mandated academic standards, according to Shaughnessy.

Much of the evening focused on criticizing Gov. Chris Christie and his Republican administration. While the majority of the audience was receptive to the argument, others were not.

"Whether they...intended it or not, public education is under attack in the state of New Jersey," said Caputo, a former educator.

Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-28) was scheduled to be apart of the forum but did not attend.